A new unverified report claims Apple's next-generation Mac Pro will feature a custom CPU and have a rack-mountable "server" version.

MIC Gadget reported Monday that the forthcoming refresh for the Mac Pro will "look different in appearance" and include a mountable server model meant to replace the discontinued Xserve line. According to the report, the new desktop will add the Thunderbolt I/O and make the transition to the Sandy bridge architecture with a "unique CPU" developed for Mac and "not seen in PC."

The updated Mac Pro is said to be "significantly faster with the updated processor" and "good for enterprise," though further details about the custom CPU were unavailable. While it remains unclear what exactly Apple's plans for a custom Mac Pro CPU would entail, MacNN speculates that Apple may receive early access to the Xeon E5 processor. The report reiterated a July or August timeline for the refresh.

Rumors emerged over the weekend that Apple has developed "all new" next-generation Mac Pros and Mac Minis. It was suggested that Apple would add Sandy Bridge and Thunderbolt and plans to launch the new Macs in August.

Last week, AppleInsider reported that Apple plans to hold back releases of new Mac refreshes until the Mac OS Lion operating system is ready. Lion will be available only on the Mac App Store sometime in July.

MIC Gadget also reported Monday that the rumored next-gen Mac Mini will see a price drop because of savings from switching to Intel HD integrated graphics from Nvidia's graphics chips. Apple will reportedly save $40 per unit, though gaming performance will suffer as a result.

The report also mentioned updates to Time Capsule and Airport Extreme. The new Time Capsule is rumored to have a better design for heat dissipation and may include a 3TB model, while the Airport Extreme will feature extended range and better heat dissipation. According to the report, the base station will be able to create three networks, including a limited guest network that can be switched on or off. Both products are expected to add a "secret feature" of caching updates for iOS and Mac OS X.

However, it should be noted that these claims remain unverified. The site has leaked info from sources within China in the past, but it's unclear where exactly its current info is from.

The Mac Pro never had hot swappable power supplies, or interchangeable power supplies. Well, interchangeable in that you could swap it out in a few minutes instead of a full disassemble. Are they confusing the Mac Pro with the Xserve??

And I wonder why you would need THREE networks on an Airport basestation. One full network, one limited 'guest' network are what most people would need. What would be the purpose for the third? Hmmm.

A very dependable insider tells me that the new Mac Pro tower will be shipping in a quad-A6 configuration, each CPU having its own 1GB of RAM and the latest 32-bit ARM instruction set for a total of 4GB or RAM and 8 1.2 GHz cores - and will be able to stream full-HD video to an attached monitor using its integrated GPU.

This source has never been wrong before, so you can count on it - and remember, you read it on AI first!

If this were true, it would be pretty stupid of Apple to discontinue the Xserve before a rack-mountable MacPro was announced. Nothing like pissing off a bunch of existing customers who then spend a lot of time (and maybe money) working on a migration plan, possibly buying new (non-Mac) hardware if they needed to upgrade/expand their server room. And then have to win back those customers and hope they trust you enough to buy back in.

A very dependable insider tells me that the new Mac Pro tower will be shipping in a quad-A6 configuration, each CPU having its own 1GB of RAM and the latest 32-bit ARM instruction set for a total of 4GB or RAM and 8 1.2 GHz cores - and will be able to stream full-HD video to an attached monitor using its integrated GPU.

This source has never been wrong before, so you can count on it - and remember, you read it on AI first!

Nah, they're bringing back the PowerPC G5! And remember, you read it on AI first!

Before WWDC, the lion's share of the rumors were software focused. Now, with OS X Lion, iOS 5, and iCloud out in the open, all the rumors are focused on new hardware. Next should be an invitation to select press (Dalrymple, Gruber, etc.) for an unveiling by Apple of what these rumors are all about!

If this were true, it would be pretty stupid of Apple to discontinue the Xserve before a rack-mountable MacPro was announced. Nothing like pissing off a bunch of existing customers who then spend a lot of time (and maybe money) working on a migration plan, possibly buying new (non-Mac) hardware if they needed to upgrade/expand their server room. And then have to win back those customers and hope they trust you enough to buy back in.

I don't think Apple is that stupid or clumsy.

*blink* *blink*

That's exactly what Apple did. The XServe has been discontinued since January, with no rackable replacement available. They've already started losing enterprise customers, and they need to win them back with a rackable Mac Pro. What's stupid and clumsy is that they didn't have one ready in January.

That's exactly what Apple did. The XServe has been discontinued since January, with no rackable replacement available. They've already started losing enterprise customers, and they need to win them back with a rackable Mac Pro. What's stupid and clumsy is that they didn't have one ready in January.

I'd say they underestimated the impact, but I'd also imagine that they didn't have the product they needed yet.

I don't think the marketplace would be too accepting of a MacPro that just fits into a 19" rack at 5U. They must have been at a point where they needed to discontinue the XServe... although I don't know why as they never bothered updating it anyway.

Will be interesting to see what they do. Might restore some of the faith I lost in their interest in the enterprise market.

Before WWDC, the lion's share of the rumors were software focused. Now, with OS X Lion, iOS 5, and iCloud out in the open, all the rumors are focused on new hardware. Next should be an invitation to select press (Dalrymple, Gruber, etc.) for an unveiling by Apple of what these rumors are all about!

That's great, but unless Apple updates it's 27" Cinema Display, the Thunderbolt standard isn't going to do anyone much good. Thunderbolt might be compatible with the display's MDP input, but you'll still need to plug in the USB, as MDP doesn't support data transfer. Unfortunately, displays are one area where Cupertino's innovation has traditionally been a bit remiss.

I would also expect them to update the iPod/iPad/IPhone lines with TB sooner rather than later if they're serious about it going forward. The problem is that iPod's mass-appeal has been a child of USB and it's near-ubiquity. Mess around with the USB port and suddenly it's incompatible with 7 years of of third party equipment. At this point, iPod could probably weather the storm, but whenever they decide to make the changeover, they'll undoubtedly need to offer a USB 2.0 adapter if they hope to sell more than a few handful.

And I wonder why you would need THREE networks on an Airport basestation. One full network, one limited 'guest' network are what most people would need. What would be the purpose for the third? Hmmm.

Based on their existing tech, I would imagine they're continuing the dual channel option, perhaps? So the "Guest" network comes in addition to existing 2 5 Ghz and 5.Ghz bands offered in the current AirPorts.

All Apple has to do is get rid of the handles and the Mac Pro will fit in standard computer racks without problem. Add a lights-out management option and sysadmins won't have all that much to complain about.

If this were true, it would be pretty stupid of Apple to discontinue the Xserve before a rack-mountable MacPro was announced. Nothing like pissing off a bunch of existing customers who then spend a lot of time (and maybe money) working on a migration plan, possibly buying new (non-Mac) hardware if they needed to upgrade/expand their server room. And then have to win back those customers and hope they trust you enough to buy back in.

I don't think Apple is that stupid or clumsy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkgm

*blink* *blink*

That's exactly what Apple did. The XServe has been discontinued since January, with no rackable replacement available. They've already started losing enterprise customers, and they need to win them back with a rackable Mac Pro. What's stupid and clumsy is that they didn't have one ready in January.

I think what Wiggin is saying is that this rumor is false. Apple would not produce a rack mount server after ceasing production of one and leaving a gap of many months.

All Apple has to do is get rid of the handles and the Mac Pro will fit in standard computer racks without problem. Add a lights-out management option and sysadmins won't have all that much to complain about.

Oh there's plenty to complain about. How about lack of redundant power supplies, no hot-swappable drives, unnecessary heat from a GPU, 3U size for a 1U price/performance, no fiber connections. However, I'm not a sysadmin, but I can already hear the screams.

Nah, they're bringing back the PowerPC G5! And remember, you read it on AI first!

Sorry, that's simply not true, though there is a kernel...

My inside source is hinting that the Mac Pro's new A6 processor may support Altivec, as well as (and this has been confirmed!) a hardware 680x0 emulation layer to let it run Mac OS System 7 virtual machines more efficiently. A sophisticated hypervisor will simulate true pre-emptive multitasking by spawning off additional virtual machines as needed.

I know this all makes sense so far, but - and this part really blew me away! - apparently the Mac Pro will have a proprietary backplane of 30-pin dock connectors for its A6 iPhone5 'iBlades'. That's why they just released the unlocked phones - they were afraid that companies running the big iron wouldn't want to pay for a carrier plan for every blade in their servers. (The other implication is that we could see the OS 7 hypervisor make its way onto our phones and iPads, but that depends on it getting App Store approval since it falls afoul of the emulation restrictions.)

I know it sounds far-fetched, but that's why it has to be correct. And as always, you read it here on AI first!

A very dependable insider tells me that the new Mac Pro tower will be shipping in a quad-A6 configuration, each CPU having its own 1GB of RAM and the latest 32-bit ARM instruction set for a total of 4GB or RAM and 8 1.2 GHz cores - and will be able to stream full-HD video to an attached monitor using its integrated GPU.

This source has never been wrong before, so you can count on it - and remember, you read it on AI first!

Do you think the New Mac Pros can boot in 10.6?

I can't work with Lion because of missing Rosetta.....
If new MacPros can't boot in SnowLeopard i have to buy an Mac Pro before new ones are coming.

Rack mountable makes perfect sense... They design the front new chassis to be 19" tall and then flip the unit on it's side to install Rack ears. Compaq and HP have been doing this with desktop chassis style server for years and years... Rack mountable is still a valid term.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prof. Peabody

Here you say rack-mountable, then later you say "mountable."

Mountable makes sense, but rack-mountable makes almost no sense at all.

A rack mountable computer is rotated 90 degrees from a desktop tower.
The ports would be on the top or bottom of the tower (neither orientation being very handy).

Wait a minute, this wouldn't mater if the shape was Steve's favourite ... the cube is back!

A very dependable insider tells me that the new Mac Pro tower will be shipping in a quad-A6 configuration, each CPU having its own 1GB of RAM and the latest 32-bit ARM instruction set for a total of 4GB or RAM and 8 1.2 GHz cores - and will be able to stream full-HD video to an attached monitor using its integrated GPU.

This source has never been wrong before, so you can count on it - and remember, you read it on AI first!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallest Skil

No.

What program are you using (that we haven't told you an alternative to yet)?

Oh there's plenty to complain about. How about lack of redundant power supplies, no hot-swappable drives, unnecessary heat from a GPU, 3U size for a 1U price/performance, no fiber connections. However, I'm not a sysadmin, but I can already hear the screams.

No server hardware, no problem. Apple expects enterprise users to use the Cloud!